Over a thousand people, most of them police officers from neighboring states, gathered at a funeral in rural Kentucky to honor Jason Ellis, a K-9 officer who was killed in what is believed to be a planned attack. At the funeral, Fido, Ellis’ faithful police dog, was also present and was captured by photographer Jonathan Palmer as he placed his paw on the closed casket.
Ellis was alone on May 25 when he was shot several times while cleaning debris on a highway off-ramp in Bardstown, Kentucky. Fido, his loyal companion, was not with him during the incident. Bardstown is a small community of around 12,000 residents, located about 40 miles southeast of Louisville. The investigation into Ellis’ murder is still ongoing and unresolved.
The funeral of a K-9 officer was attended by many of his fellow K-9 officers, who could be heard howling from their cruisers, as reported by the Herald Leader.
As the honor guard was called, many officers stood to attention during the ceremony. The 21-gun salute from the guards caused around 60 police dogs in attendance to bark. Ellis, who had served for six years in the police force, was remembered by Bardstown Police Chief Rick McCubbin, who made a promise to capture the perpetrator responsible for his death.
McCubbin, the chief of police, addressed his fallen colleague, Jason, and reminded him that although he held the title of chief, the real heroes were the officers on the force. He assured Jason that they would continue to carry on with their duties and uphold the values they all shared. McCubbin then turned his attention to Ellis, a police officer who lost his life in the line of duty, leaving behind his wife, Amy, and two young boys, Hunter and Parker. McCubbin praised Ellis for his dedication to serving as an officer and recognized his bravery in making the ultimate sacrifice.